BELIZE CITY – A significant labor dispute between Belize Communication Workers for Justice (BCWJ) and Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) has escalated dramatically, with union representatives vehemently rejecting the telecommunications company’s assertion that negotiations have concluded.
Emily Turner, a prominent organizer with BCWJ, characterized BTL’s position as fundamentally “unprofessional” during a press conference, asserting that the union will not accept the company’s declaration that discussions are finished. “If they believe that because they came on a press conference and acted unprofessionally to tell us that negotiations was finished… that we will take that like that’s it? No, it’s not,” Turner stated emphatically.
The conflict centers on severance payments for dozens of former employees, which Turner revealed had been completely removed from consideration until union intervention successfully reopened dialogue. “The door had shut on them,” she explained. “We brought back the severance on the table. We brought back the interest on the table.”
Turner highlighted what she described as a “staggering” disparity between what workers are legitimately owed and BTL’s current settlement offers. Illustrating the magnitude of the discrepancy, she cited one specific case where a former employee entitled to approximately $7,000 in interest payments would receive a mere $158 under the company’s proposed terms.
The union leader further criticized BTL’s allocation of financial resources, noting that the company has expended over $20 million in legal fees to contest worker claims rather than resolving the debt through settlement. “Why would you want to spend that amount of money instead of settling this debt with us?” she questioned.
In response to the impasse, BCWJ has announced plans to stage protests outside the National Assembly during next Tuesday’s legislative session. Turner indicated that the union believes ultimate resolution authority may lie beyond BTL’s board, expressing encouragement that Prime Minister John Briceño had previously indicated the board’s willingness to offer a three percent settlement.